Fatigue

[Ghost Writer]

Yeah, we know the Spurs are older and not as fast as the Lakers.


But I am more concerned about how the Spurs seems a step behind this whole series.

The jumpers are flat.

They are not getting to the loose balls.

There was the whole plane incident and playing games every other day.

If I am Pop, I demand that the whole team sleeps in and just rests before Game 5.

Shut 'em down and let them energize.

[TampaDude]

Yup...the Spurs need rest...they don't need to practice...they know how to play basketball...they need energy for the full 48...need 3 more like Game 3.

[samikeyp]

Yeah, we know the Spurs are older and not as fast as the Lakers.


But I am more concerned about how the Spurs seems a step behind this whole series.

The jumpers are flat.

They are not getting to the loose balls.

There was the whole plane incident and playing games every other day.

If I am Pop, I demand that the whole team sleeps in and just rests before Game 5.

Shut 'em down and let them energize.

Couldn't hurt.

[timmydidit]

another useless thread

[Slippy]

If I am Pop, I demand that the whole team sleeps in and just rests before Game 5.

Shut 'em down and let them energize.



Arn't they doing this already? Since game 1 i think. We can only hope they are able to put this loss behind them and get to sleep no worries. I highly doubt it though.

[WCFBaby]

Come on, the spurs had a nice run, but it's over. They are being schooled by a much younger and more talented team (and when Bynum returns next year.........GOOD GOD!).

[hater]

another useless thread

at least he is not bitchin about officials.

Spurs are running on fumes. that is the main reason they are losing.

If they can recharge enough for game 5, they have a 50% chance of wining that game.

GO SPURS!

[Nbadan]

I don't see what can be gained by practicing before tomorrow night, but some look at game film and getting the Lakers off the O board might be appropriate...

[SuperDave]

The story for this series is the Spurs' fatigue. Unfortunately, they won't be able to recharge for however many games are left.

The Spurs are an old team, and the NO series left them running on empty. They played game 1 on adrenaline and will, but eventually these things catch up to you.

If this series had a couple of two-day breaks built in, I have little doubt that the Spurs would win. This is a very, very difficult team to beat when they have their legs and energy.

But the Spurs have no one but themselves to blame for any of this. Win an extra game in the regular season, and you have HCA against the Hornets, and that series probably ends in 5 or 6. Simply play better against NO, and end the series earlier, and you earn the right to get some rest prior to the conference finals. Or, constitute the roster a little differently, get a younger, energetic swingman to plug into the rotation in Fin's spot, and you can survive these games better.

With an aging roster, fatigue is bound to have an impact. I think Phil looked at the WCF schedule prior to this series, and knew that the Spurs were going to struggle to play at their best after coming off a grueling 7-game slog against NO.

It is what it is, and, unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about it at this point. There is no opportunity for this team to rest and reenergize.

[WCFBaby]

at least he is not bitchin about officials.

Spurs are running on fumes. that is the main reason they are losing.

If they can recharge enough for game 5, they have a 50% chance of wining that game.

GO SPURS!

"hater", shouldn't you be wearing a pro Lakers sig from your bet with a Lakers fan?? :wow

[hater]

"hater", shouldn't you be wearing a pro Lakers sig from your bet with a Lakers fan?? :wow

the bet was canceled out when that lakerfan dissapeared and never changed his sig when spurs won

[ambchang]

This is what you get when you finish a 7 game series, have only a day rest, and then have to play every single game every other day. The scheduling is the worst I have seen in years.

[WCFBaby]

the bet was canceled out when that lakerfan dissapeared and never changed his sig when spurs won

I was following that thread. The Lakers fan appears to have been banned. Lucky you.

[Ghost Writer]

another useless thread
And you are a living abortion.



The Spurs are weary. Our only hope is catching a second wind for the rest of the series.

[hater]

This is what you get when you finish a 7 game series, have only a day rest, and then have to play every single game every other day. The scheduling is the worst I have seen in years.

not to mention this was the most grueling regular season schedule for Spurs. didn't they have like 7 games in 11 nights like twice this season?

these r not excuses. it is what it is.

[SenorSpur]

This fatigue factor is all the more reason why entering the season with an unbalanced roster of players this old, was a bad idea. Having veterans gives a proven advantage. However a better mix of veterans, with 2-3 younger or mid-career players would've been a better solution.

[Ghost Writer]

But the Spurs have no one but themselves to blame for any of this. Win an extra game in the regular season, and you have HCA against the Hornets, and that series probably ends in 5 or 6. Simply play better against NO, and end the series earlier, and you earn the right to get some rest prior to the conference finals. Or, constitute the roster a little differently, get a younger, energetic swingman to plug into the rotation in Fin's spot, and you can survive these games better.

Bold, but true.

[urunobili]

i like this thread... doesn;t matter the obstacles GW pointers are very clear and true... until we're dead.. i still believe...

[bigfan]

As Dan Cook said "It aint over til the fat lady sings" (I wonder if anybody but me still remembers the great Dan Cook?). Anyway, we will see on Thursday. Its been a real tough road thru the playoffs with PHX then NO and if we've run out of gas, well, thats it. Kobe has played pretty damn good and the rest of the Lakers are pretty decent too. I still think the Spurs can win this thing though if their shots start falling. The green light needs to go up for Finley and Horry to start lobbing 3's like Bones did last night.

[KobeOwnsBowen]

Spurs are old. Not tired.

[samikeyp]

Spurs are old. Not tired.

Actually they are both.

Doesn't matter though, if you are on the court you are given no excuses. SA is just getting beat.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

As Dan Cook said "It aint over til the fat lady sings" (I wonder if anybody but me still remembers the great Dan Cook?).

Believe me, no longtime San Antonian forgets Cook. Hell, I had lunch yesterday at one of his favorite spots downtown (Audry's).

[Dex]

You guys mean Dane Cook? That guy's hilarious :rolleyes

/sarcasm

[ipeefreely]

another useless thread

no sh!t...


ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Wake me when its over...the series that is....

And it will be soon enough....

[mexicanjunior]

Spurs should have shut down the big 3 in Game 1 and let them rest up for Game 2 and on...they are just dead tired now.

[AztecPrincss]

YOu CAn Spend Minutes HOurs,days weeks or even months over analyzing the situation trying to put the pieces together justyfying what couldve wouldve happened..or you can just leave the pieces on the floor and move the fuck on..

[SenorSpur]

I'm not as disappointed in this game as I am in the fact the Pop and R.C. basically did a disservice to the Big Three, by not providing them with a better cast of role players around them. Look at the bench. No adequate backup PG for Tony. No backup PF for Tim, and no backup SG for Manu. It's no wonder these guys are fatigued, the have to play a ton of minutes because the drop in on-court production is significant when they're not playing.

This series proved how the Spurs team success is predicated on, not only the success of the big three, but also solid contributions from role players. This game should serve as a mandate toward building a more balanced roster that includes a supporting cast of younger, more energetic, and more athletic players, going forward.

Pop has got to overcome his apparent prejudice against younger players. The "old-age-only" philosophy is outdated, to say the least. It worked for a time, but no more. They've absolutely got to retool the bench around the Big Three.

"The time to buy car insurance isn't when you have an accident"

[leemajors]

hyperbaric chambers for all!

[ambchang]

I actually believe the FO did a phenomenal job of surrounding the big 3 with role players who can play well together. Look around, how many teams, from 4 to 12, can boast the quality of players the Spurs have, not to mention have 1-3 as dominant as the Spurs?

Key to Game 5, 6 and 7 would be Parker. He is the one who could be reasonably fresh right now, and nobody on the Lakers can guard him, none. Drive the lane in wreckless abandon, and get Gasol in foul trouble (that guy has an obsession with blocking shots rather than good position defense). Barry should get burn over Finley (duh!), Duncan should not go all out in the 1st half, leaving him strength to compete in the 2nd half, and Manu should always be out there to keep the Lakers off balance.

Bowen on Kobe is a sound strategy, he has done a great job throughout the series. Defensively, there is nothing that needs to be changed. Offensively though, motion.

[Don Quixote]

Well ... it turned out that Vaughn, Fin, Barry, Udoka, Horry, et al, couldn't be counted on to produce consistently in the playoffs. This led to heavy minutes in games like last night.

Their roster looked pretty good to start the season, but by the time the playoffs rolled around, the revealed themselves to be too old/sucky to be of much help. But what can you do? You dance with the bitch you brought to the prom. May as well have sex with her.

[Ghost Writer]

The Spurs need:
1. a complimentary, big man who can block a few shots
2. a young, athletic swingman that can hit the three and drive the lane
3. a quality backup PG

These needs have not been addressed collectively or individually for more than one season at a time since 1998.

[ducks]

barry was doing a good job on backup point guard

[Ghost Writer]

barry was doing a good job on backup point guard
Now imagine Barry doing a good job as backup swingman and a real backup PG spelling Parker.

[Ghost Writer]

http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblog...rsborn_no.html

Pleased to read that Pop gave 'em a break today.

[T Park]

The Spurs need:
1. a complimentary, big man who can block a few shots
2. a young, athletic swingman that can hit the three and drive the lane
3. a quality backup PG

These needs have not been addressed collectively or individually for more than one season at a time since 1998.


Well 1 can be accomplished with Ian this summer, he can block shots, but can he sta out of foul trouble? If he can, hes gonna be a huge help.
2 is probobly impossible to find unless by some miracle they drafted one.
3 can be had, just gotta look for it.

[2Cleva]

Gotta agree that the fatigue has nuetralized the Spurs vet experience.

Biggest worry about this series for the Lakers were the Spurs never losing their heads. However as their legs have gone, so have their wits. Games 1 and 4 never would have happened to previous Spurs teams. And that lack of legs/heady play has allowed the young Lakers to step up.

When Odom is making plays in the 4th instead of pissing on himself, you know that the opponents aren't bringing enough pressure.

But like its been said - the Spurs put themselves in that positon.

[Ghost Writer]

Well 1 can be accomplished with Ian this summer, he can block shots, but can he sta out of foul trouble? If he can, hes gonna be a huge help.
2 is probobly impossible to find unless by some miracle they drafted one.
3 can be had, just gotta look for it.

Dude, if it were that easy, why have we not gotten these players here or to stick around in 10 years?

[ElNono]

I'm not as disappointed in this game as I am in the fact the Pop and R.C. basically did a disservice to the Big Three, by not providing them with a better cast of role players around them. Look at the bench. No adequate backup PG for Tony. No backup PF for Tim, and no backup SG for Manu. It's no wonder these guys are fatigued, the have to play a ton of minutes because the drop in on-court production is significant when they're not playing.

This series proved how the Spurs team success is predicated on, not only the success of the big three, but also solid contributions from role players. This game should serve as a mandate toward building a more balanced roster that includes a supporting cast of younger, more energetic, and more athletic players, going forward.

Pop has got to overcome his apparent prejudice against younger players. The "old-age-only" philosophy is outdated, to say the least. It worked for a time, but no more. They've absolutely got to retool the bench around the Big Three.

"The time to buy car insurance isn't when you have an accident"

+1

However, knowing Pop, he will trade whatever youngsters we can get our hands on for more 30+ year old vets.